The Alexandria Police Department and the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office have partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the “Take-Back” initiative that seeks to prevent increased pill abuse and theft.

On Saturday, October 29, 2011, from 10 A.M. – 2 P.M., the two Alexandria law enforcement agencies, with cooperation from the Substance Abuse Coalition of Alexandria, will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs and other medications for destruction at three sites in the City. The sites include the new Police Headquarters, located at 3600 Wheeler Avenue, Fire Station 209 in Potomac Yards, located at 2800 Main Line Blvd. and the George Washington Masonic Memorial, located at 101 Callahan Drive. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

These drugs are a potential source of supply for illegal use and an unacceptable risk to public health and safety. This one-day effort is intended to bring national focus to the issue of increasing pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse.

Collection sites in every local community can be found by going to www.dea.gov.

Deputy Director of State, Local and Tribal Affairs for the Office of National Drug Control Policy Benjamin B. Tucker will be stopping by Fire Station 209 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Other participants in this initiative include the Partnership for a Drug-Free America; the International Association of Chiefs of Police; the National Association of Attorneys General; the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy; the Federation of State Medical Boards; and the National District Attorneys Association.